Improvement in car-couplings



E. WEBBER.

CAR-COUPLING.

Paten-ted'J'un 6, 1876.

-Fig 2.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ELBRIDGE WEBBER, OF GARDINER, MAINE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, OF TWOTHIRDS HIS RIGHT TO HENRY A. STEARNS, OF LIN GOLN,

RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 178,351, dated June 6, 1876; application filed i Y November 3, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELBRIDGE WEBBER, of Gardiner, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved car-coupling. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the locking-block, showing the locking-jaw E. Fig. 4 is a side view of the same.

This invention relates to that class of railroad car couplings in which the ordinary coupling-link is used-to connect two cars, but in which the connection is made automatically; and consists in the peculiar arrangement of a block having a beveled locking-pawl, and acting by gravitation, as is more fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, a represents the draw-head of a railroad-car. b is the coupling-block, sliding vertically in the draw-head. O is the spring-cover, which retains the locking-block, and prevents the same from being raised by the jolting of the car when in motion, and still allows the same to rise when the connecting link is forced under the beveled pawl E. It is pivoted at 0, so that it can be moved to one side for the purpose of inserting or removing the block b when requisite. d is the connecting-link, shown secured at one end to the draw-head by the locking-block b, and in position to enter the opposite draw-head. E is the projecting pawl, beveled as shown, to allow the connecting-link to force the same upward on entering the draw-head, and as soon as the link end has passed the pawl E it drops in between the link and secures the same, while the shoulders of the locking-block rest on the link and hold the same in a horizontal position ready to enter another draw-head of the same, or nearly the same, height.

When the draw-heads diifer too much in height, a curved link, the same as is now used in such cases, must be used; but when the dili'erence is not great, the'end of the connecting-link may be raised by placing temporarily any handy material under the link, and the block b will retain the link in this position until the cars are locked.

f is a chain, one end of which is secured to the block b, and the other fastened to any convenient place to allow of uncoupling, by raising the block b until the link can pass under the pawl E.

This coupling is very simple in construction, and can be used in connection with the ordinary link-and-pin coupling. It is strong and durable, and, as the locking-block b may be cast in a chill, the projecting beveled pawl E will stand the wear much longer than the ordinary pin, and can be replaced at a small expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination of the draw-head a, block b, having its pawl E, and spring 0, having the chain f, through a hole therein, connected to the block b, substantially as and for the purpose described.

ELBRIDGE WE BBER. 

